Recommended conventions for reporting results from direct dark matter searches

The field of dark matter detection is a highly visible and highly competitive one. In this paper, we propose recommendations for presenting dark matter direct detection results particularly suited for weak-scale dark matter searches, although we believe the spirit of the recommendations can apply more broadly to searches for other dark matter candidates, such as very light dark matter or axions. To translate experimental data into a final published result, direct detection collaborations must make a series of choices in their analysis, ranging from how to model astrophysical parameters to how to make statistical inferences based on observed data. While many collaborations follow a standard set of recommendations in some areas, for example the expected flux of dark matter particles (to a large degree based on a paper from Lewin and Smith in 1995), in other areas, particularly in statistical inference, they have taken different approaches, often from result to result by the same collaboration. We set out a number of recommendations on how to apply the now commonly used Profile Likelihood Ratio method to direct detection data. In addition, updated recommendations for the Standard Halo Model astrophysical parameters and relevant neutrino fluxes are provided. The authors of this note include members of the DAMIC, DarkSide, DARWIN, DEAP, LZ, NEWS-G, PandaX, PICO, SBC, SENSEI, SuperCDMS, and XENON collaborations, and these collaborations provided input to the recommendations laid out here. Wide-spread adoption of these recommendations will make it easier to compare and combine future dark matter results

Asymmetric dimethylarginine in ELBW newborns exposed to chorioamnionitis.

Abstract We measured circulating ADMA concentrations in a group of very premature newborns at birth and during the first week of life. ADMA levels resulted significantly higher in infants born to mothers with histologic chorioamnionitis than in infants delivered for other maternal or fetal indications, both at birth and through the first week of life. We speculate that ADMA might be involved in the complex biological events associated with fetal exposure to chorioamnionitis

Online trapping and enrichment ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for sensitive measurement of "arginine-asymmetric dimethylarginine cycle" biomarkers in human exhaled breath condensate.

BACKGROUND: Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a biofluid collected non invasively that, enabling the measurement of several biomarkers, has proven useful in the study of airway inflammatory diseases, including asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previous report of any analytical method to detect ADMA in EBC. OBJECTIVES: Aim of this work was to develop an online sample trapping and enrichment system, coupled with an UPLC-MS/MS method, for simultaneous quantification of seven metabolites related to "Arginine-ADMA cycle", using the isotopic dilution. METHODS: Butylated EBC samples were trapped in an online cartridge, washed before and after each injection with cleanup solution to remove matrix components and switched inline into the high pressure analytical column. Multiple reaction monitoring in positive mode was used for analyte quantification by tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Validation studies were performed in EBC to examine accuracy, precision and robustness of the method. For each compound, the calibration curves showed a coefficient of correlation (r(2)) greater than 0.992. Accuracy (%Bias) was <3% except for NMMA and H-Arg (<20%), intra- and inter-assay precision (expressed as CV%) were within \ub120% and recovery ranged from 97.1 to 102.8% for all analytes. Inter-day variability analysis on 20 EBC of adult subjects did not demonstrate any significant variation of quantitative data for each metabolite. ADMA and SDMA mean concentrations (\u3bcmolL(-1)), measured in EBC samples of asthmatic adolescents are significantly increased (p<0.0001) than in normal controls (0.0040\ub10.0021 vs. 0.0012\ub10.0005 and 0.0020\ub10.0015 vs. 0.0002\ub10.0001, respectively), as well the ADMA/Tyr (0.34\ub10.09 vs. 0.12\ub10.02, p<0.0001) and the SDMA/Tyr ratio (0.10\ub10.04 vs. 0.015\ub10.004, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method features simple specimen preparation, maintenance of an excellent peak shape of all metabolites and reduced matrix effects as well mass spectrometer noise. Moreover, the possibility to perform different cycles of enrichment, using large injection volumes, compensated for the low concentration of analytes contained in EBC, leading to a good analytical sensitivity. Preliminary data obtained from asthmatic and healthy adolescents, demonstrated that the analytical method applied to EBC seems suitable not only for research purposes, but also for clinical routinely analysis

Antineoplastic activity of lentiviral vectors expressing interferon-alpha in a preclinical model of primary effusion lymphoma.

The peculiar site of development of primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) highlights a specific role of body cavities in the pathogenesis of this neoplasia. We used a xenograft murine model of PEL to characterize the contribution of the host microenvironment to PEL growth. The activity of a murine (ie, host-specific) interferon-alpha(1) (IFN-alpha(1))-expressing lentiviral vector (mIFN-alpha(1)-LV) was compared with that of a human (h) IFN-alpha(2)b-LV. LVs efficiently delivered the transgene to PEL cells and conferred long-term transgene expression in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of PEL-injected severe combined immunodeficiency mice with hIFN-alpha(2)b-LV significantly prolonged mice survival and reduced ascites development. Interestingly, mIFN-alpha(1)-LV showed an antineoplastic activity comparable with that observed with hIFN-alpha(2)b-LV. As mIFN-alpha(1) retained species-restricted activity in vitro, it probably acted in vivo on the intracavitary murine milieu. mIFN-alpha(1)-treated murine mesothelial cells were found to express tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and to significantly trigger apoptosis of cocultured PEL cells in a tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-dependent manner. These data suggest that the interaction between lymphomatous and mesothelial cells lining the body cavities may play a key role in PEL growth control and also indicate that the specific targeting of microenvironment may impair PEL development

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in EBC of asthmatic children

A study the relevance of ADMA in children with asthm

ASYMMETRIC DIMETHYLARGININE (ADMA) IN EXHALED BREATH CONDENSATE AND SERUM OF ASTHMATIC CHILDREN.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor and uncoupler of nitric oxide synthase. By promoting the formation of peroxynitrite, ADMA is believed to contribute to several aspects of asthma pathogenesis (ie, airway inflammation, oxidative stress, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and collagen deposition). The aim of the present study was to compare this mediator in healthy children and children with asthma using the completely noninvasive exhaled breath condensate (EBC) technique

ASYMMETRIC DIMETHYLARGININE (ADMA) IN EXHALED BREATH CONDENSATE AND SERUM OF ASTHMATIC CHILDREN.

BACKGROUND. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor and uncoupler of nitric oxide synthase. By promoting the formation of peroxynitrite, ADMA is believed to contribute to several aspects of asthma pathogenesis, i.e. airway inflammation, oxidative stress, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and collagen deposition. The aim of the present study was to compare this mediator in asthmatic and healthy children using the completely non-invasive exhaled breath condensate (EBC) technique. METHODS. We recruited 77 asthmatic children (5-16y) and 65 healthy children (5-15y) who underwent EBC collection and spirometry. Serum ADMA levels and FENO levels were measured on the same day in a subgroup of asthmatic children. EBC was collected using the Turbo-Deccs (Medivac, Parma, Italy). ADMA levels were measured using the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) technique. RESULTS. ADMA could be detected in the EBC of 71 asthmatic and 64 healthy subjects. ADMA levels in the EBC of asthmatic children were significantly higher than in the healthy controls (median 0.12[IQR 0.05-0.3] vs 0.07[0.05-0.12], p=0.017), while no difference emerged between the asthmatic children who were or were not on inhaled steroid treatment. No correlation was found between serum and EBC ADMA levels (p&gt;0.5). CONCLUSIONS. We measured ADMA in EBC by UPLC-MS/MS, a reference analytical technique. Higher ADMA levels were found in asthmatic children, supporting a role for this mediator in asthma pathogenesis. This oxidative stress-related mediator also seems to be scarcely affected by steroid therapy. We speculate that ADMA might be a target for new therapeutic strategies designed to control oxidative stress in asthma